Because of the natural wonders it has, Uganda is sometimes called “Africa Condensed in One Country” or “The Pearl of Africa.” Uganda has many game reserves that give visitors incredible experiences.
Some of these reserves can be included in your safari in Uganda. The commitment of both the government and local people to conservation has helped Uganda’s wildlife grow.
Mammals such as African elephants, large primates, and even the smallest rodents can be found in each reserve.
When you visit the wildlife reserves on a safari in Uganda, you will enjoy beautiful views of rolling landscapes, a variety of plants, and many exciting activities.
While in Uganda, you should visit some of these reserves.
Ajai Wildlife Reserve
Ajai Wildlife Reserve covers 166 square kilometers in the Arua District of northwestern Uganda, on the west bank of the Albertine Nile. The reserve has grass plains, Savannah woodlands, and marshes.
Birds found in this area include marabou storks, African fish eagles, grey-crowned cranes, white-browed coucals, helmeted guineafowls, and black-headed weavers. It is a great place to visit if you enjoy bird-watching.
Bokora Corridor Wildlife Reserve
Bokora Corridor Wildlife Reserve is named after the Bokora ethnic group and is located in the Karamoja subregion in northeastern Uganda. It covers 2,056 square kilometers and has an amazing landscape.
The reserve is an excellent place to see bird species unique to northeastern Uganda. Activities in this reserve include hiking to Mount Kadam, nature walks, birdwatching at the Loporokocho marsh, and visiting the Bokora people’s cattle kraals to learn about their way of life.
Bugungu Wildlife Reserve
Bugungu Wildlife Reserve is located on the western side of Murchison Falls National Park, at the foot of the rift valley escarpment between Bulisa and Masindi districts.
The reserve covers 473 square kilometers and is home to 240 bird species, 600 Uganda kobs, and 1,200 oribis.
Visitors can enjoy nature walks, wildlife drives, camping, picnics, bird-watching, and cultural visits to learn about local traditions.
You can visit Bugungu Wildlife Reserve as part of a trip to Murchison Falls National Park or on its own.
Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve
Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve covers 87 square miles and is located between Murchison Falls National Park and Kibale National Park along the western rift valley trail.
The reserve is near Lake Albert, where fishing is a major activity. The Nile perch is the most common fish in this area.
Because there are no predators in Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve, nature walks and guided treks are safe and enjoyable.
Visitors can also explore the reserve on ATV quad bikes or mountain bikes.
Karuma Wildlife Reserve
Karuma Wildlife Reserve is named after the Karuma Falls on the Nile River, which is the main attraction in the reserve.
Since the reserve is close to Murchison Falls National Park, it is easy to visit both places in one trip.
However, the falls are not suitable for water rafting due to the large number of rocks. The reserve is home to many primates, including olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, and L’Hoest monkeys.
Katonga Wildlife Reserve
Katonga Wildlife Reserve is located along the Katonga River and is home to about 40 mammal species. These include the shy sitatunga antelope, African elephants, reedbucks, Uganda kobs, river otters, and waterbucks.
Activities in Katonga Wildlife Reserve include canoe safaris, hikes, and guided nature walks. Since the reserve has few roads, the best way to explore it is on foot or by boat.
It is also home to about 150 bird species, including the rufous-bellied heron, Madagascar pond-heron, squacco heron, cattle egret, grey heron, black-headed heron, and goliath heron.
Kigezi Wildlife Reserve
Kigezi Wildlife Reserve covers 265 square kilometers in the Rukungiri District of western Uganda. It is a great place to see African elephants, as it serves as a migration route for elephants traveling from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Other animals found in the reserve include kobs, buffaloes, giant forest hogs, bushbucks, and topis. Bird species found here include the hammerkop, grey-crowned cranes, Verreaux’s eagle, saddle-billed stork, red-faced barbets, and peregrine falcon.
Kyambura Wildlife Reserve
Kyambura Wildlife Reserve is known for chimpanzee trekking, guided by experienced trackers. It is located near Queen Elizabeth National Park and provides water for many animals in the park.
The reserve is also home to many bird species, including the white-tailed lark, African skimmer, African broadbill, pink-backed pelican, and falcons.
Visitors can enjoy guided nature walks through the forest.
East Madi Wildlife Reserve
East Madi Wildlife Reserve is located in northwestern Uganda, north of Murchison Falls in Amuru District. The reserve covers 831 square kilometers and is home to 50 mammal species, 181 bird species, and 374 plant species.
Primates found in the reserve include blue monkeys, colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, and red-tailed monkeys. Visitors can enjoy nature walks, wildlife viewing, and bird-watching.
Matheniko Wildlife Reserve
Matheniko Wildlife Reserve is located in the Karamoja subregion of northeastern Uganda. Animals commonly found in the reserve include lesser kudus, roan antelopes, Bright’s gazelles, and ostriches.
The reserve is also home to ancient rock paintings believed to be over 3,000 years old. Activities include birdwatching, outdoor walks, and cultural visits to local communities.
Pian-Upe Wildlife Reserve
Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve is Uganda’s second-largest conservation area after Murchison Falls National Park. It is located in the Nakapiripirit District of northeastern Uganda and can be reached by road from Kampala to Mbale.
Animals in the reserve include roan antelopes, cheetahs, serval cats, elands, zebras, rock hyraxes, waterbucks, and common duikers. Primates found here include olive baboons, patas monkeys, and vervet monkeys.
The reserve is also home to birds such as Fox’s weaver, Abyssinian ground hornbill, superb starling, ostrich, Karamoja apalis, great Hartlaub’s bustard, and Jackson’s hornbill.
Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve
Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve was gazetted in 1926 and is one of Uganda’s top wildlife reserves. It is located in western Uganda, between Kabarole and Ntoroko districts, near Semliki National Park.
A boat trip on Lake Albert offers the chance to see the rare shoebill stork and other water birds, including the African openbill, great white pelican, and pied kingfisher.
The reserve is home to over 400 bird species, including the Abyssinian ground hornbill, malachite kingfisher, African openbill, Ludher’s bush-shrike, tropical boubou, black-billed barbet, arrow-marked babbler, and red-necked falcon.
